LOC14:40
11:40 GMT
NEW DELHI, June 24 (KUNA) -- India successfully flight-tested on Friday indigenously developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of eastern Indian state of Odisha.
The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy carried out the test from an Indian naval ship.
"The VL-SRSAM, a ship borne weapon system, is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets," the statement said.
Senior scientists from DRDO and the Indian Navy monitored the flight path of the missile using a number of tracking instruments deployed by the ITR.
"The launch of the system was conducted against a high speed aerial target mimicking aircraft, which was successfully engaged," the ministry said.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated scientists and officials at the DRDO, Indian Navy and the industry for the successful flight-test.
"The system has added an armour that will further enhance defence capability of Indian Naval ships against aerial threats," he said.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar also hailed the Indian Navy and DRDO for the successful test of the missile system and said "the development of this indigenous missile system will further strengthen the defensive capabilities of the Indian Navy."
India is engaged in an arms race against its two nuclear rivals, China and Pakistan, for the last many years through development and testing of various missile systems. India's missile system is meant to protect its cities from any possible attacks from the two neighbouring countries with which New Delhi has long standing border disputes. (end)
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